*
banner

CD review: Spotlight

Katrina Marzella
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs; Edward Gregson
Doyen Recordings: CD393

Katrina

star
Katrina Marzella has been in the spotlight as the artistic standard bearer of the brass band baritone for well over a decade or more. Her first solo CD came in 2009, so this one is well overdue. 

It’s been well worth the wait.

In the interim major repertoire for the instrument has rather trickled into a reservoir full to the brim of comparative euphonium output, so it’s perhaps not surprising that this release, although centred on welcome premieres of substantive works by Simon Dobson and Peter Graham, has an element of familiarity about it.

Rare amalgam

Marzella is a rare amalgam of erudite artistry and technical assuredness; musical elements that are forged together to bring a patina of freshness to ‘Napoli’, and a soaring tenderness to ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’.

Her resonant timbre has a dark malleability; never forced or strained throughout the dynamic range, phrase lines played without recourse to artifice, the vibrato tempered to suit. 

‘The Holy Well’, ‘Be My Love’, ‘Alone with my Thoughts’ and ‘With His First Breath’ are recognised standards furnished with subtle style and nuanced emphasis.  The delightful duet, ‘One September Morning’ alongside Zoe Lovatt-Cooper is a little gem – a suave touch of ebbing sophistication from the pseudonym pen of Robert Eaves. 

These though provide the well-mannered padding surrounding Simon Dobson’s ‘Rampage’, a work which cuts a raw, rollicking swath through proceedings; a feral piece of writing from the award winning Cornishman that bubbles with an incessant hell-raising energy – like a night out on the lash with Oliver Reed in tow. It’s a dazzling piece of exhibitionism from composer and soloist alike.

a feral piece of writing from the award winning Cornishman that bubbles with an incessant hell-raising energy – like a night out on the lash with Oliver Reed in tow. It’s a dazzling piece of exhibitionism from composer and soloist alike. 

Virtuosic homage

You suspect the heroines of ‘Turbulence, Tide & Torque’ would be delighted by that; Marzella delivering a virtuosic homage to a triptych of women of incredible fortitude, bravery and daring, whose historic achievements now rather sadly languish in relative obscurity. 

Each is a portrait of the inner strength that inspired Harriet Quimby to fly across the English Channel in 1912, Grace Darling rescue people from an icy sea in 1838, and Dorothy Levitt set a new land speed racing car record in 1906.

Katrina Marzella honours them with a display of audacious verve, steely resolve and sheer hutzpah.

They would have been thrilled by her fearlessness. The listener is too.

Iwan Fox


To purchase: https://www.worldofbrass.com/100533-group.html

Play list:

1. Napoli (Bellstedt arr. Brenden Wheeler)
2. The Lark in the Clear Air (trad arr. Stephen Roberts)
3. Rampage (Simon Dobson)
4. With His First Breath (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
5. Alone with my Thoughts (Erik Spence arr. Brenden Wheeler)
6. Turbulence, Tide & Torque (Peter Graham)
i. Turbulence
ii. Tide
iii. Torque
9. One September Morning (Robert Eaves)
Featuring: Zoe Lovatt-Cooper
10. The Holy Well (Peter Graham)
11. Be My Love (Brodszky arr. Ray Farr)

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Chinnor Silver

April 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are recommencing rehearsals on 28th Monday at 11am in our bandroom and we would love you to join us.. We welcome players of all abilities who just fancy a friendly fun blow with cake and coffee thrown in.. Its all free so join us.


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


Craig Roberts

BA (Hons), MA
Conductor / Adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd